Container top opening and clamping mechanism



.lune l2, 1956 K. F. NEWELL 2,750,090

CONTAINER TOP OPENING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. wme 27 BY awful/JW f /uz/on/ June 12, 1956 K. F. NEWELL CONTAINER TOP OPENING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 195i NTI: 1 n .Q n KM. KK ANY ii 2 0? h? June 12, 1956 K. F. NEWELL 2,750,090

CONTAINER TOF OPENING-AND CLAMPING MECHANISM Filed 06t- 2, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 4f f l IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent O CONTAINER Tor oPENING AND CLAMPING MECHANISM Kenneth F. Newell, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Continental Can Company, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application Gctober 2, 1951, Serial No. 249,349

Claims. (Cl. 226-59) This invention relates to packaging machines for filling fiexible bags or containers with merchandise and is more particularly concerned with a mechanism for opening out the tops of successive bags and holding the top of each bag in open position during the filling operation.

Itis a general object of the invention to provide a mechanism for spreading the top of a flexible container to fully open position and for holding the same in such position while the container is filled with a quantity of the commodity being packaged.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine a reciprocable filling spout and mechanism cooperating therewith for expanding the top of a bag which is positioned beneath the lling spout into fully open position upon predetermined movement of the filling spout into the bag and for thereafter clamping the margins of the bag against the exterior of the filling spout to hold the same in opened-up condition during the filling operation.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine having means for supporting a bag in open position and a reciprocable filling spout mounted for insertion within the open top of the bag, a plurality of bag top spreading members mounted in the path of movement of the filling spout which are automatically moved into top spreading position within the bag upon movement of the filling spout therein, and bag top gripper members operating in timed relation to the movement of the spout to clamp the bag top in fixed relation to the spout during the filling period.

It is another object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine having a pocketed conveyor for supporting therein a series of bags, a filling mechanism comprising a reciprocable filling spout arranged at a work station along the conveyor and mechanism to open up or spread the top of the bag which is operated by movement of the spout to the lling position together with mechanism cooperating with the spout to hold the bag top in opened position during the filling operation.

it is another object of the invention to provide in a bag filling machine having a filling station and an intermittently operated conveyor provided with means for supporting a series of bags and for successively positioning the same at the filling station, a reciprocable filling spout at the filling station, a fixed support extending at the filling station with a central aperture therein, a plurality of resilient bag top expanding fingers connected to the support and extending radially into the central aperture, the filling spout and the aperture in the fixed support being aligned vertically with the open top of the bag as it is positioned by the conveyor at the filling station, so that upon movement of the filling spout through the aperture and into the top of the bag the radially extending fingers are pivoted downwardly and outwardly of their support into top expanding position within the bag, together with a pair of gripper jaws pivotally mounted on the fixed support, and means to swing said gripper jaws outwardly ICC and downwardly in timed relation to the movement of the filling spout to clamp the bag on the spout during the filling period.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the mechanism which is shown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a bag top spreading and clamping mechanism embodying therein the principal features of the invention, with portions of a supporting structure and a bag delivery conveyor being shown therewith;

Fig. 2 is a section taken generally on the line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section taken generally on the line 3--3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a section taken generally on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken generally on the line 5--5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a partial elevation as in Fig. 1, with the bag top spreading and clamping mechanism in non-engaging position, the position of the lling spout and spreading fingers when engaging the bag top being indicated in dotted lines.

The mechanism in the accompanying drawings which embodies therein the principal features of the invention is shown, for convenience in illustrating the same, incorporated in a packaging machine of the type described in the copending application for Container Filling, Closing and Sealing Machine, Serial No. 81,154, filed March 12, 1949, now Patent No. 2,676,443. Only those elements of the packaging machine are shown which are necessary for an understanding of the operation of the mechanism of the present invention. The present mechanism may, of course, be incorporated in or used in conjunction with any other packaging machine of a similar character where empty containers which are of relatively exible material and which are in opened out or set-up condition are presented to a filling device for inserting therein a quantity of merchandise.

In the packaging machine with which the device is shown in the drawings, empty bags which are fabricated of relatively fiexible material such as paper, cellophane, etc. are received in open condition in the pockets of a conveyor which is intermittently moved to carry the bags past a series of work stations which include a filling station, a bag top folding station and a bag top sealing station. These mechanisms operate successively on the bags to fill each bag with merchandise, to fold into closed position the top thereof, and finally to seal the folded top by application of heat and pressure.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Figs. l and 6, in transverse elevation, the filling station of a packaging machine at which the mechanism of the present device is located. A conveyor (not shown) is supported on the main frame members of the machine and provided with pocket members or holders 10 which are mounted thereon so that they are in upright position when on the top run of the conveyor. The conveyor is arranged to move each successive bag holder 10 beneath a material hopper or charge measuring device and a feed mechanism (not shown) which is adapted to provide a predetermined charge of the material which is to be packaged for delivery to each bag 11 in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor. Suitable mechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling the operation of the conveyor to position the successive bag holders 10 intermittently at the filling station for a sufficient length of time to receive a charge of material within each bag 11.

A depending feed chute 12 is supported in fixed relation at the filling station beneath the charge measuring device on a horizontally extending bracket 13 which is secured to 'an upper portion of a vertically extending supporting frame structure 14. A reciprocable filling spout or funnel 15 is arranged lin telescoped relation over the bottom portion of the feed chute 12. The spout 15 is Iriourite'd ori a supporting block member 16 by means of a pair of vertically spaced clamping plates 17 which encircle the top f the spout 15 and are secured at the outer side by clamping posts 18 and connecting bolts 19. At the inner side the plates 17 are secured to the top and bottom surfaces of the supporting member 16 by fastening bolts 20. A slide plate 21 is secured to the supporting member 16 and is supported for vertical sliding movement in a guideway formed by a vertical plate 22 secured to the spaced angle members 23 which form a supporting structure 14 and cooperating gib plates 24 secured thereon. The slide plate 21 has a laterally extending bracket arm 25 which projects through a slot 26 in the plate 22 and which is connected by pin 27 to a vertical connecting rod'28. At its lower 'end the connecting rod 28is secured by a pin 29 to one arm of a bell crank 30. The other arm of the bell crank 30 carries a cam roller for engagement with a suitable control cam (not shown). A tension spring 31, connected at one end to the support frame 14 and at the other end to pivot pin 27, urges the spout 15 in the downward direction and holds the roller on the bell crank 30 in engagement with the control cam. The filling spout 15 is of course reciprocated vertically in timed relation to the horizontal movement of the bag carrying conveyor to position the lower end of the spout 15 within the top of the bag 11 when the bag 11 is in alignment beneath the same.

A fixed supporting bracket v32 extends horizontally beneath the feed chute 12 and is secured by clamp bolts 33 to the vertical frame members 23. The supporting bracket 32 is apertured at 34 to receive the reciprocating spout 15. The bracket 32 carries on its lower face a support plate 35 which is secured in fixed relation thereto and centrally apertured at 36 (Fig. 5) to correspond to the aperture 34 in the bracket 32. A plurality of bag opening members or fingers 37 are arranged in circumferentially spaced relation around the aperture 36 and 'normally extend radially toward the center thereof. Each of the fingers 37 is formed of bent resilient spring wire material providing an inwardly extending generally V- shaped tip portion 38 `and generally parallel laterally spaced legs or base forming portions 39. The ends of the legs 39 are-pivotally mounted on a pin 40 extending between the parallel downwardly projecting side flanges of an attaching clip 41 which is of generally U-shaped cross-section and which is adapted to be detaehably secured to the supporting plate 35 by suitable clamping bolts 4t2-'extending through a slot in the base of the clip. The ends ofthe le'g portions 39 of the spring lingers 37 are extended to form fa torsion spring 43 around the pivot pin for urging the fingers 37 normally into generally horizontal position but permitting the fingers to be moved downwardly and outwardly about the pivot 40 against the force of the torsion spring. With this arrangement of the fingers 37, the movement of the lower edge 44 of the spout 15 into the top of the bag 11 forces the fingers 37 downwardly and outwardly against the inner surfaces of the top margins of the bag 11 to spread the same into circular shape corresponding to the shape of the spout 15.

A mechanism for clamping the bag top to the spout 15 is also supported on the bracket 32. It comprises two pairs of opposed clamping members or shoes 45. Each shoe 45 of the respective pairs is mounted on a pivot pin 46 depending from a supporting angle member 47, there being two of these angle members arranged in oppositely disposed relation, one on each side of the filling v"spout 15. Each ofthe clamping shoes 45 is provided with an innercurved clamping surface 48 which is faced with a liner 49 of suitable material, -suchas `soft sponge Vrubber, for'engagementwith the outer surface of ythebag top to clamp the same against the exterior surface of the spout 15. Each of the clamping shoes 45 extends approximately one-quarter of the distance around the periphery of the spout 15, with adjoining ends 50 of each pair being spaced a slight distance to permit a limited movement about the pivot pins 46. Each of the shoes 45 is urged by a tension spring 51 in one direction around its pivot 46, while being limited in its movement in that direction by engagement of the end 5t) with the opposite clamping shoe or with a suitable stop member.

The supporting angle members 47 are secured to the bottom of a pair of depending arms 52 which are pivotally mounted for swinging movement around pivot pins or stub shafts 53 projecting outwardly of opposite side edges 54 of the support 32. The outer pair of the arms 52 are each provided at the pivot end with a segment gear 55 which is adjustably mounted on pivot pin 53 by clamping screws or bolts 56 and cooperating adjustment slots 57. Each of the segment gears 55 is in driving relation with a segment gear 58 arranged on the pivot pin 53 on the oppositely disposed support arm 52. The segment gears 58 are secured to the arms 52 by clamping screws or bolts 59 and cooperating adjusting slots 60. The segment gears 58 are in driving relation with segment gears 61 mounted on an operating shaft 62 which extends between the side faces or edges 54 of the support bracket 32 and which is journaled therein. An operating arm or link 63 extends between the frame membrs 23 and is connected by an adjustable pivot 64 to a connecting rod 65. The lower end of the connecting rod is pivotally connected at 66 to one arm of a bell crank 67. The other arm of the bell crank 67 carries a cam roller 68 which is engaged Vwith a suitable operating cam (not shown) mounted on the main frame of the machine. A tension spring '69 connected at one end to the support frame 14 and at the yother end to the arm of the crank 67 holds the cam roller 68 in engagement with its control cam. The operating Aor control cam for moving the clamp suporting arms 52 is of course so designed that the clamp shoes 45 are moved toward and from the filling spout 15 in proper timed relation to the vertical movement of the same.

The operation of the mechanism will be apparent from the detailed description thereof. As the bags 11 are positioned by movement of the conveyor to bring the pockets 10 into line with the feed chute 12, the filling spout 15 is reciprocatcd to bring the lower edge 44 thereof against the opening fingers 37 and into the open top of the bag 11, moving the fingers 37 downwardly and outwardly about their pivots 40 to spread the bag top and conform it to the cross-section of the spout 15. The clamp supporting arms 52 are operated by their control cam in timed relation to the movement of the spout 15 to bring the clamping shoes 45 into engagement with the outer surfaces of the bag top margins and clamp the same against the periphery of the filling spout 15 adjacent the bottom end thereof. Upon deposit of the desired chargefof material in the bag the clamping shoes 45 are moved out of clamping relation with the bag top and the spout 15 is reciprocated vertically to withdraw the lower end thereof from the bag top and free the same for movement to the next operating station of the machine.

While the device of the present invention has been illustrated in connection with a specific filling and closing machine, it will be understood that it is suitable for incorporation in other machines of a. similar character. Also it may be used independently in connection with hand filling operations, it being adapted to spread the topof a bag presented beneath the same manually and clamp the margins thereofagainst the filling spout for the filling operation, with the filled bag being removed therefrom manually or by a suitable carrier or conveyor. Also, the specific details of the construction which is shown 'are intended Vas illustrative only and it is contemplated that other details of construction within the spirit of the invention may be resorted to.

I claim:

l. In a bag filling machine, a filling station, a conveyor having pockets for supporting a plurality of open bags therein, said conveyor being mounted for intermittent movement to position the bags successively at the filling station, a vertically reciprocable filling spout mounted at said station, a fixed support member extending horizontally into the path of movement of said filling spout and having an aperture therein for accommodating the filling spout, movable bag top expanding fingers mounted on said support member and extending radially into the aperture therein, said fingers being mounted for downward movement into a bag top positioned in a pocket of the conveyor when said pocket is positioned at said filling station to spread the mouth thereof upon movement of the lower end of the filling spout through said aperture in said support member, clamp members pivotally mounted on said support member and means operating said clamp members in timed relation to the movement of said filling spout to clamp therebetween the spread mouth of the bag.

2. in a bag filling machine, characterized by a filling station and an intermittently operated conveyor having pockets for supporting bags in open position therein successively at the filling station, a filling spout mounted for reciprocable vertical movement at the filling station, a fixed support member extending horizontally into the path of movement of said filling spout and having an aperture therein for receiving the lower end of the filling spout, movable bag top clamping members on said support member, and means connected to said clamping members for moving said clamping members into engagement with the bag top to clamp the mouth thereof against the filling spout upon movement of the lower end of the filling spout through said aperture and into the bag top.

3. In a bag filling machine, a filling station, a conveyor having pockets for supporting a plurality of open bags therein, said conveyor being mounted for intermittent movement to position the bags successively at the filling station, a vertically reciprocable filling spout mounted at said station, a support member extending horizontally into the path of movement of said filling spout and having an aperture therein for accommodating the filling spout, swingably mounted bag top expanding fingers on said support member having end portions extending horizontally into the aperture therein, said end portions being swingable downwardly and outwardly into a bag top positioned in a pocket of the conveyor beneath said filling station to spread the mouth thereof by movement of the lower end of the filling spout into engagement with said fingers and through said aperture in said support member, clamp members, means pivotally mounting said clamp members adjacent said support member and means operating said clamp members in timed relation to the movement of said filling spout to clamp thereagainst the spread mouth of the bag.

4. In a bag filling machine, a filling station, means for supporting an open bag at the filling station, a filling spout mounted for vertical reciprocation at said station, a support member extending horizontally into the path of movement of said filling spout and having an aperture therein for accommodating the filling spout, bag top expanding fingers swingably mounted on said support member and having portions extending into the aperture therein, said fingers being mounted for movement of said extending portions downwardly and outwardly of said aperture into the open bag top to spread the mouth thereof by movement of the lower end of the filling spout through said aperture in said support member, clamp members pivotally mounted on said support member and means connected to said clamp members for pivoting said clamp members in timed relation to the movement of said ffilling spout into clamping engagement with the spread mouth of the bag.

5. In a bag filling machine, a filling station, means for supporting an open bag at the filling station, a lling spout mounted at said station, means for imparting relative movement to the filling spout and bag supporting means to insert the end of the filling spout in the top of the bag, a support member extending horizontally between the filling spout and the bag supporting means and having an aperture therein for receiving therethrough the filling spout, movable bag top expanding fingers on said support member having portions extending radially into the aperture therein, said fingers being mounted for movement into the bag top by engagement with the lower end of the filling spout as it moves through said aperture in said support member, clamp members pivotally mounted adjacent said support member and means pivoting said clamp members to engage the spread mouth of the bag and clamp the same against the filling spout when said filling spout extends through the aperture in said support member and into the bag top.

6. In a bag filling machine, a filling station,` a pocketed conveyor for supporting a plurality of open bags, said conveyor being mounted for movement to position the bags successively at the filling station, a filling spout mounted at said station, a support member extending horizontally beneath said filling spout and having an aperture therein for passing the filling spout through the same and into the top of a bag positioned beneath the same, bag top expanding fingers movably mounted on said support member and extending radially into the aperture therein, said fingers being mounted for swinging movement of the ends thereof into the bag top to spread the mouth of the latter upon movement of the lower end of the filling spout through said aperture in said support member, opposed pairs of clamp members pivotally mounted on said support member and cam means operating said clamp members in timed relation to the movement of said filling spout to clamp therebetween the spread mouth of the bag.

7. In a bag filling mechanism wherein a filling spout is arranged for movement vertically above a bag supporting member, a bracket member extending into the path of movement of the filling spout and having an aperture therein for receiving said spout, oppositely disposed pairs of bag top clamping members, a generally U-shaped supporting frame for each pair of said clamping members, said frames having the leg portions thereof pivotally mounted on said bracket member and means for swinging said frames in timed relation to the movement of said filling spout to clamp the bag top to the same.

S. In a bag filling mechanism, a filling station, a filling spout arranged at said station for reciprocable vertical movement, a support member extending into the path of movement of the filling spout and having an aperture therein for receiving said filling spout, generally U-shaped frames having the leg portions thereof pivotally mounted on said support member and depending therefrom, pairs of bag top clamping members pivotally mounted on said frames, gear segments connecting said frames for simultaneous swinging movement thereof and means to operate said segments to move said clamping members into bag top clamping relation with said spout upon movement of said spout through the aperture in said support and into a bag top.

9. In a bag filling mechanism, a filling spout having a reciprocable section, a supporting structure extending into the path of movement of said reciprocable section and having an aperture to receive therethrough the end of the reciprocable section, bag top expanding elements movably mounted on said supporting structure, said top expanding elements being characterized by resilient wire members which are bent into outwardly opening V-shaped formations and which are pivotally mounted adjacent the ends of the legs thereof, said top expanding elements having the closed ends thereof extending inwardly toward the center of said aperture, said top expanding elementsk being movable into the top of a bag simultaneously with the movement of the end of said reciprocable spout section into the same, cooperating 'clamping members mounted on said suporting structure and means for moving said clamping members in timed relation-to movement of said reciprocable spout section to clamp the expanded bag top against movement relative to the rreciprocable spout section when said reciprocable spout section is positioned in said bag for the lling operation..

10. In a bag filling mechanism having a movable lling spout, a `fixed supporting structure having an aperture therein adapted to receive the end yof the movable 'filling spout therethrough, bagV top expanding devices mounted on saidsuppoting structure, said bag top expanding devices being characterized by resilient wire members which are 'bent into generally V-'shap'ed configuration with the closed ends thereof initially extending into the aperture in said Asupporting structure and with the legs pivotally 8 mounted on said supporting structure adjacent the ends thereof whereby said top expanding devices are movable into the top of the bag positioned beneath said supporting structure by engagement therewith of the moving end of the lling spout as it passes through the aperture and moves into filling position Within said bag.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

